Noah.Dreams
08-30-2005, 09:30 AM
If UAB can take the lead in this game, they may catch the Vols asleep....
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
STEVE IRVINE - BHM News staff writer
Carlos Hendricks woke up Monday morning with some energy to burn.
The UAB cornerback thought about going for a jog but the threatening skies ended that notion. Instead, he sat around thinking about Saturday's 11:30 a.m. season opener at No.3 Tennessee, which didn't help slow down his energy level.
Hendricks played in just one game last season - the loss at Florida State on Sept. 18 - because of a preseason leg injury. He's eager to get back on the field.
"I've been out a whole year, man, I'm dying to play," Hendricks said. "Man, my blood's pumping so fast. I'm like a little kid in the candy store. I'm ready to play."
The circumstances are a bit different for Hendricks' teammates and members of the UAB coaching staff. But it's hard to find anybody associated with the UAB football team not ready for Saturday to arrive.
"It's time to play," UAB head coach Watson Brown said. "I think we're all excited about it. I think we need to play somebody at this point. I believe we've gotten just about as good as we can get by going against each other."
But are the Blazers ready for Tennessee? Brown believes Tennessee is "physically the best team we've played in the 11 years I've been here."
That includes the 1998 Tennessee team which won the national championship.
"I think this team is physically better than that one," Brown said.
Linebacker Mastaki Smith says "this is what you dream about when you're a little kid."
As talented as the Vols are, Hendricks says, "there's no way I think we can get blown out."
Quarterback Darrell Hackney offers a couple of reasons why UAB feels it has a chance to be competitive.
"Our offensive line is much improved and they're ready to show people what they can do against top-notch teams like Tennessee," Hackney said. "I've got my weight down (from near 270 to 235), so hopefully I can avoid some of the sacks we took last year."
Brown likes the confidence he sees in his players. "They look forward to playing and they think they can win. That's not cocky at all. We're not predicting victory by any means, but I think we'll be confident. We won't be shocked at what we line up and see when we walk on the field."
Brown said the biggest reward may be what the Blazers learn about themselves by the time they leave Knoxville for Birmingham.
"After the game, win or lose, we'll know a lot about ourselves," Brown said. "That's the good thing about playing such a good team early in the year."
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
STEVE IRVINE - BHM News staff writer
Carlos Hendricks woke up Monday morning with some energy to burn.
The UAB cornerback thought about going for a jog but the threatening skies ended that notion. Instead, he sat around thinking about Saturday's 11:30 a.m. season opener at No.3 Tennessee, which didn't help slow down his energy level.
Hendricks played in just one game last season - the loss at Florida State on Sept. 18 - because of a preseason leg injury. He's eager to get back on the field.
"I've been out a whole year, man, I'm dying to play," Hendricks said. "Man, my blood's pumping so fast. I'm like a little kid in the candy store. I'm ready to play."
The circumstances are a bit different for Hendricks' teammates and members of the UAB coaching staff. But it's hard to find anybody associated with the UAB football team not ready for Saturday to arrive.
"It's time to play," UAB head coach Watson Brown said. "I think we're all excited about it. I think we need to play somebody at this point. I believe we've gotten just about as good as we can get by going against each other."
But are the Blazers ready for Tennessee? Brown believes Tennessee is "physically the best team we've played in the 11 years I've been here."
That includes the 1998 Tennessee team which won the national championship.
"I think this team is physically better than that one," Brown said.
Linebacker Mastaki Smith says "this is what you dream about when you're a little kid."
As talented as the Vols are, Hendricks says, "there's no way I think we can get blown out."
Quarterback Darrell Hackney offers a couple of reasons why UAB feels it has a chance to be competitive.
"Our offensive line is much improved and they're ready to show people what they can do against top-notch teams like Tennessee," Hackney said. "I've got my weight down (from near 270 to 235), so hopefully I can avoid some of the sacks we took last year."
Brown likes the confidence he sees in his players. "They look forward to playing and they think they can win. That's not cocky at all. We're not predicting victory by any means, but I think we'll be confident. We won't be shocked at what we line up and see when we walk on the field."
Brown said the biggest reward may be what the Blazers learn about themselves by the time they leave Knoxville for Birmingham.
"After the game, win or lose, we'll know a lot about ourselves," Brown said. "That's the good thing about playing such a good team early in the year."